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Egypt began their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Belgium on Monday, 15 June, at Lumen Field in Seattle, earning a valuable point in their opening Group G match. Emam
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For the Gulf, the news from Geneva arrives less as triumph than as exhalation. After months in which the Strait of Hormuz — the artery through which much of the world’s energy, and nearly all of Qatar’s, must pass — was held hostage to a widening war, the framework agreement between Washington and Tehran offers the first credible prospect of relief. Oil prices have softened, the guns in southern Lebanon have somewhat quietened, and Iranians long braced for catastrophe permit themselves a guarded hope. That alone is worth marking. Yet sobriety is the more useful response. The conflict that began on February 28 was launched with sweeping ambitions in Washington: to dismantle Iran’s military, end its nuclear programme, unseat the regime and “liberate its people”. None of these have been achieved. What has emerged instead is a document neither side has published, signed in part electronically, and already subject to competing interpretations. President Donald Trump has promised the strait will be “permanently toll-free”; Tehran’s foreign ministry counters that fees may be levied “in exchange for the services that are provided.” When the central practical achievement is described in two incompatible ways before the ink is dry, prudence is warranted. The hard questions have not been answered so much as deferred. A 60-day window now opens for a fuller settlement, and within it lie the very disputes that fuelled the war: the lifting of American sanctions and the limiting of Iran’s nuclear capacity. Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, has named the obstacle plainly — these talks will labour beneath “a history of broken promises.” Vice-President JD Vance, who is to lead the next phase, concedes there are “very important details to figure out,” not least the fate of Iran’s enriched uranium. Some $24bn of Iranian assets remain frozen abroad, to be released only as undefined milestones are met. Frameworks are easy; it is the details that have undone every previous attempt. For Gulf states, the lesson is one of exposure. The region did not start this war, yet its shipping lanes, its energy exports and its airspace bore the consequences. A peace that reopens Hormuz only haltingly — American officials cannot agree whether normal traffic resumes in days or weeks, and mines still litter the water — is a reminder of how swiftly the Gulf’s prosperity can be hostage to decisions taken elsewhere. Resilience, not relief, must be the watchword. Lebanon is the clearest warning sign. Iran and Pakistan, the patient mediator whose diplomacy deserves recognition, insist the agreement halts operations on every front. Israel, not party to the talks, says otherwise: its leaders have refused to withdraw from the south. A ceasefire that one of the principal combatants does not consider itself bound by is no ceasefire at all, and Lebanon has too often been the place where larger bargains quietly collapse. None of this is cause for cynicism. The alternative to an imperfect framework is a continuing war, and the human cost of that arithmetic is not in doubt. A flawed beginning is still a beginning. But the Gulf has learned, through long experience, to distinguish a ceremony from a settlement. The handshakes in Geneva on Friday will photograph well. Whether they hold will be determined not by the choreography of signing but by the willingness of all parties — including those absent from the table — to honour what they have, for now, only agreed to discuss.
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Japan's Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi speaks to Netherlands' Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius during the Japan-Netherlands Defence Ministers' Meeting in Tokyo Tuesday. (AFP) Japan said Tuesday it has not yet decided whether its military will join efforts to help the resumption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after the US-Iran peace deal.US President Donald Trump said that the vital artery for oil and gas would be "completely open" from Friday but added there was still "hunting" going on to ensure the waterway was de-mined.Japan signed onto a joint statement issued Monday by European nations that they were ready for a "defensive and independent mission to reassure commercial shipping and conduct mine clearance operations" in the strait.The statement added though that this would occur in accordance with "respective constitutional requirements".Japan's constitution strictly limits the use of force to self-defence.Trump has pressed global allies including Japan to send warships to the region to help open the strait."At this point, no decision has been made regarding the dispatch of the Self-Defence Forces," Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Tuesday, using the official name for Japan's armed forces."We intend to consult closely with relevant countries, including our ally the United States, carefully assess the situation, and consider necessary measures within the framework of international and domestic law," Koizumi said.In April, senior members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party suggested that after fighting stops, Japan should consider deploying minesweepers and other vessels to clear any obstacles in the Strait of Hormuz, the Nikkei reported.Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, currently at a Group of Seven summit in France, later reportedly said Japan will have various options after a ceasefire agreement.Japan's Maritime Self-Defence Force (MSDF) is considered adept at removing mines, with 16 vessels capable of such operations, the Nikkei said.The Japanese military was involved in mine-clearance operations in 1991 after a ceasefire in the Gulf War. Related Story
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US law enforcement Tuesday said it had foiled a plot to attack the White House during a crowded mixed martial arts event attended by President Donald Trump and other top officials."Thanks to the rapid action of this FBI, our partners, and the Department of Justice in a multi-state operation, multiple individuals are now in custody and allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold," FBI Director Kash Patel announced on X.His post included a caption of a Fox News headline reading: "FBI disrupts alleged explosive-drone plot targeting White House UFC event, officials say."Trump on Sunday joined thousands of fans at the unprecedented White House fights, where a temporary arena dubbed "The Claw" was erected on the South Lawn.Fox News reported that five people had been taken into custody, according to unnamed US officials, with investigators identifying 23 people in a "potential network of plotters" who allegedly communicated in a Signal group chat.The plan allegedly would have involved using drones to hit buildings near the White House during the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) contest, thereby prompting a mass evacuation that would "steer crowds toward a pre-staged sniper team," Fox News said.There were also allegedly plans to storm the White House gates with a "second wave," the report said.It was not clear if people involved in the alleged plot had taken any steps to carry out an attack. The White House is protected by intense surveillance, fencing, checkpoints, anti-air-attack capabilities, snipers and a permanent group of quick-reaction forces.Asked for further details about Patel's announcement, the FBI told AFP "we have nothing to add to the post at this time."The June 14 "UFC Freedom 250" event — which also fell on Trump's 80th birthday — was meant to kick off this year's festivities for the 250th anniversary of US independence.Fox News reported that the FBI learned of the threat on June 10."Protective intelligence cases are on the rise, and our teams work tirelessly behind the scenes to investigate threats, identify those responsible and ensure accountability," the US Secret Service said in a statement on X."In the days leading up to this weekend, our special agents, mission support personnel, and technical security teams worked around the clock to identify those responsible and hold them accountable," Secret Service Director Sean Curran said.Trump has faced several assassination attempts in recent years, most recently when a gunman attempted to storm a White House press gala he was attending in April.US Vice President JD Vance, who also attended the UFC event, said Tuesday morning in an appearance on Fox News that he had just learned about the alleged plot.Asked why the FBI revealed the foiled plot — a step it does not always take for various security reasons — Vance pointed to potential "scale of the planned attack."He described the alleged plan as a "coordinated planned terrorist plot" and cited the Trump administration's work to investigate funding and coordination networks of radical left-wing groups.Vance did not provide further details on who the alleged suspects were or their motivations, but nonetheless accused Democrats of fomenting violence with anti-Trump rhetoric."Everybody has a role to cut this stuff out, but I think a lot of my Democratic colleagues in Washington have got to look themselves in the mirror and say, 'why is so much of this political violence coming from our side of the spectrum?'" he said.The White House has repeatedly claimed that Trump critics and the media are responsible for rising political tension in the country. Opponents of Trump say the 80-year-old Republican's often inflammatory rhetoric against opponents, immigrants and the election system are to blame. Related Story
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Myanmar's President Min Aung Hlaing and China's President Xi Jinping inspecting a guard of honour during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (AFP) Chinese President Xi Jinping Tuesday endorsed the political leadership of Myanmar's military chief-turned-president Min Aung Hlaing as the two met in Beijing to map out the future development of bilateral ties.Beijing prioritises its ties with Naypyitaw as part of its diplomacy strategy with neighbouring nations, Chinese state news agency Xinhua cited Xi as saying in the meeting, affirming his support for the current Myanmar government's efforts for its country's development and security."I am willing to continue strengthening our leadership (over our countries' bilateral ties), carry forward the brotherly friendship between our two peoples, deepen comprehensive strategic cooperation," Xi told Min Aung Hlaing, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. The former junta chief is in China for a five-day state visit until Friday, his first trip to the world's second-largest economy since he formalised his grip on power following controversial elections in the war-torn country in December and January.Xi also spoke about making greater contributions to regional peace and development through China's bilateral ties with Myanmar. The two countries share an almost 2,200-km (1,367-mile) land border.Beijing, the biggest investor with the most visible strategic and economic footprint in Myanmar, has always been pragmatic in how it maintains ties with Naypyitaw, said Moe Thuzar, a senior fellow at ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute, a Singapore-based research centre."The current engagement is thus more about continuity...(and) takes a long-term perspective," she said.Beijing held a state welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People before the leaders began their talks in a closed-door meeting that lasted for less than an hour.The two men then witnessed the signing of co-operation documents, Chinese state news agency Xinhua said.The 18 memorandums for cooperation covered areas including cross-border transportation in the Greater Mekong subregion, free trade, assistance in natural disasters, health and media.STABILITY AND SECURITYChina remains one of the most important foreign partners of Myanmar's military, which seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, triggering an armed uprising.China reiterated its support for unifying domestic political forces and restoring stability in Myanmar, saying it also reflected the Southeast Asian nation's long-term national interests."China supports all parties in Myanmar advancing peace and reconciliation through dialogue, achieving lasting stability in northern Myanmar," Xi told his guest, according to Xinhua.Xi also called on both sides to advance key infrastructure projects with ensured security, framing their progress as beneficial to Myanmar's economic development.Beijing has invested in projects in Myanmar under its Belt and Road Initiative, including an oil and gas pipeline crossing the country and planned infrastructure including a deep-sea port, which are part of the massive China-Myanmar Economic Corridor connecting the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan to the Indian Ocean.Many of the projects, located in active combat zones, have faced threats and attacks since the coup.The meeting is Min Aung Hlaing's second with Xi in less than a year, after he attended the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation summit in Tianjin last August.While Min Aung Hlaing picked India for his first foreign trip after becoming president, some analysts said the visits to China suggested a closer relationship with Beijing and a boost to his international acceptance. Related Story
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Goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada, who made his international debut last year, made six saves as Qatar grabbed a dramatic 1-1 late equaliser against Switzerland to earn their first-ever World Cup point on Saturday. Qatar's resilience against Switzerland owed much to goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada, whose key saves kept them in the game, a remarkable comeback for a player once close to retirement due to a serious back injury.The 26-year-old, who made his international debut last year, made six saves as Qatar grabbed a dramatic 1-1 late equaliser against Switzerland to earn their first-ever World Cup point.The achievement was described by Abunada, who was named Man of the Match, as "the most beautiful moment of my career".Fighting back tears as he received his award, he said "I dedicate this moment to my mother and to my family."Coach Julen Lopetegui's decision to start Abunada raised eyebrows, given his limited experience and the presence of Meshaal Barsham, a key player in Qatar's 2023 Asian Cup win.Abunada, who is of Palestinian descent, exceeded expectations in his seventh international appearance, despite the pressure of playing on the world stage against a team that had reached the round of 16 in four of their last five appearances at the tournament."He has a strong presence on the pitch and an impressive ability to challenge himself," Younes Ali, who coached him at his former club Al Arabi, said.That resilience was clear against Switzerland, as the goalkeeper bounced back from an early error in the 14th minute, when he conceded a penalty against Remo Freuler that Breel Embolo converted, to produce a string of key saves, most notably a brilliant close-range stop to deny Ruben Vargas.After being promoted to Al Arabi's first team, Abunada was called up to the Qatar national team in 2020, but struggled to secure a regular starting spot. Just as he was beginning to establish himself, he suffered a serious back injury that sidelined him for the entire 2023-24 league season, after a second surgery in Munich, Germany.His fortunes did not improve the following season, with just nine league appearances for Al Arabi, amid reports he had contemplated retirement due to his ongoing injury struggles. However, he rebounded by joining Al Rayyan for a fresh start, featuring in 20 of 22 league matches and finishing the 2025-26 season as the best goalkeeper.Abunada's determination paid off, as he became Qatar's first-choice goalkeeper at the World Cup, making his major tournament debut against Switzerland."After undergoing two back surgeries, he showed great determination to become the starting goalkeeper, and he succeeded in achieving his dream," Ali said. Related Story
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There is a particular kind of decision that tells you more by its manner than its content. When the US Commerce Department gave Anthropic an hour and a half on a Friday to take down Fable and Mythos — the flagship models of a company valued only days earlier at $900bn — the haste was the message. You do not give ninety minutes’ notice to a firm you are gently nudging. You give ninety minutes to a firm you wish to discipline. The official account is tidy enough. Researchers at Amazon found a way to coax Fable past its guardrails into naming software vulnerabilities. Andy Jassy carried the finding to the White House; ministers conferred; the president signed off; export controls followed, barring foreign nationals and, by extension, forcing Anthropic to pull the plug for everyone. National security, the administration says — nothing personal. It is when one examines the instrument that the story begins to fray. Export controls exist to keep sensitive technology out of the hands of adversaries. Yet the practical effect here is the opposite of containment. The capability Amazon demonstrated is not unique to Anthropic; by the account of researchers across the field, OpenAI’s and Google’s models can do much the same — and those models remain untouched. So the rule does not deny the capability to anyone determined to have it. What it denies is access to allies: Britain, the European Commission, the very partners who had been using Anthropic’s Mythos to find and patch holes in their own networks. “The administration got it wrong,” said Katie Moussouris, the cyber-security veteran who read Amazon’s report. The guardrails, she found, were working as intended; there was, in her phrase, nothing to patch. Pile the contradictions one atop another and the structure looks less like policy than improvisation. The same department that issued the ban had tested and cleared Fable for release days earlier. The vulnerabilities the model surrendered were minor and already known — the sort of thing a network defender would happily prompt for. And while Commerce moved to control a model that allegedly imperils the nation, the same administration has been loosening restrictions on the advanced chips that build such models, blessing shipments to China. As one analyst dryly noted, it is a curious posture to police the recipe while exporting the oven. Helen Toner, formerly of OpenAI’s board, put the technical objection plainly: jailbreaks cannot be fully fixed — it is an inexact science — and any government should assume rival models are capable of the same tricks. Her verdict on the chosen lever was sharper still. Export control, she argued, is poorly suited to the task; it bars foreign governments from a tool precisely when allies are meant to be wielding it for cyber-defence. The European Commission, newly granted access and now contemplating its withdrawal, was diplomatic but pointed: contingency measures, it said, should not discriminate against partners. So if the ban does not contain the danger, does not fix the flaw, and wounds the friends it claims to protect, one is entitled to ask what it is for. Here the longer feud comes into view, and with it a more coherent reading. Anthropic and the Trump Administration have been at odds for months — over the guardrails governing the Pentagon’s use of its models, over lethal autonomous weapons, over domestic surveillance. The Pentagon has branded the company a supply-chain risk; the two are in litigation over the label. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, never one for understatement, boasted that his department had thrown Anthropic “out of our building — forever,” adding that each passing day vindicated the move. The venture capitalist David Sacks has accused the firm of “doomerism” — of frightening the public about AI’s perils while shipping ever more powerful systems. There is, in other words, no shortage of grievance in search of an outlet. Then there is the matter of timing. Anthropic had just leapfrogged OpenAI to become the world’s most valuable AI start-up, with a $47bn revenue run-rate and an IPO in prospect. A ninety-minute order that darkens your flagship product is not merely an inconvenience to such a company; it is a demonstration — to investors, to rivals, to the firm itself — of who holds the switch. Read this way, the episode is less an export control than a show of sovereignty over frontier AI, dressed in the borrowed clothes of a cyber-emergency. The casting adds its own intrigue. Amazon, which sounded the alarm, is also a $13bn investor in Anthropic; Jassy is said to have raised broader worries about frontier capability rather than this single flaw. A patron quietly flagging its protégé to the state is the sort of detail that rarely survives into the official telling. Step back far enough and the whole exercise acquires a quixotic glow. For while Washington frets over the singular menace of one American model, the market is moving in precisely the opposite direction — towards abundance. A price war has broken out; firms are routing all but their hardest tasks to cheap open-source systems, many of them Chinese, at a fraction of the cost. Intelligence is becoming a commodity, not a crown jewel. To sandbag a single model in this flood is to mistake a stream for the river. The capability the administration wishes to bottle is already pooling everywhere, and getting cheaper by the month. Which brings us to the moral of this particular Fable. A company that made its name warning — loudly, and lucratively — about the dangers of artificial intelligence has been punished with a danger it insists is illusory: its own cautionary tale turned into a cudgel. Perhaps the administration genuinely believes it has averted catastrophe. But on the evidence so far, the ban contains nothing, fixes nothing, and protects no-one save the prerogative of those who imposed it. That may, in the end, have been precisely the point. • The writer is Deputy Managing Editor, Gulf Times.
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Spain's ghosts of recent World Cup horror shows reappeared in Atlanta as the European champions were held 0-0 by debutants Cape Verde in their opening game on Monday. Lamine Yamal was left on the bench as the Barcelona superstar is eased back to fitness after nearly two months out with a hamstring injury and even his appearance as a second-half substitute failed to break down Cape Verde's dogged defence. Since winning the World Cup for the first time in 2010, Spain have not won a knockout game and their inability to make dominance of possession count was reminiscent of their meek exits in 2018 and 2022. 'Reality has to sink in,' said Spain boss Luis de la Fuente. 'This is a World Cup. We know that some teams, on paper, they are not better than us and we thought that we were far better than them. But then it's a struggle to win.' Blessed with what coach De la Fuente claimed is the best squad in the competition, Spain were considered among the pre-tournament favourites to go all the way and lift the World Cup on July 19. But the importance of Yamal and Nico Williams to their chances of success was underlined by a flat performance. Williams also had an injury-disrupted season at Athletic Bilbao and was not introduced until the 87th minute. Ranked 67 in the world, Cape Verde were making their debut on the global stage and did a nation of just over 500,000 people proud. In stark contrast to the searing temperatures faced by some other sides, Atlanta's state-of-the-art air conditioned stadium meant there was no excuses for the slow tempo of Spain's build-up. Indeed the mid-half hydration break was met by boos with fans frustrated at the break in play despite the cool conditions. It took until six minutes before half-time for Spain to seriously threaten. Marc Cucurella, fresh for sealing his move from Chelsea to Real Madrid, sent over a teasing cross that Ferran Torres turned onto the crossbar and Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha got back on his feet to turn Mikel Oyarzabal's looping header over the bar. Torres tested Vozinha again moments later before Aymeric Laporte's header from a corner was also clawed away by the Cape Verde number one just before half-time. The break came at a good time for the Blue Sharks and they comfortably held out in the second period until Yamal's entrance after the second hydration break. Billed as one of the stars of the tournament, the 18-year-old's appearance instantly lifted the crowd and injected life into the pedestrian Spanish attack. His first involvement set up a decent opening for fellow substitute Mikel Merino which was too close to Vozinha. Yamal also began the move that saw Oyarzabal's effort deflected over with Spain's best chance of the second half. Cape Verde nearly snatched a famous victory in the final minute of the 90 when Dani Borges planted a header too close to Unai Simon. But even without a winner, 40-year-old Vozinha was reduced to tears at full-time as Cape Verde produced the biggest shock of the tournament so far. 'I've worked all my life for this, for this moment, for this dream,' said Vozinha, who plays for Chaves in the Portuguese second division. 'A lot of generations in the past dreamed of this, they didn't achieve it,' he added. 'The dream came true, for all of us.' Spain's road to victory in 2010 also began disappointingly with defeat to Switzerland, but they have much to work on ahead of facing Saudi Arabia in Atlanta once more on Sunday. Cape Verde next take on Uruguay in Miami.
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Thai fisherman Somdet Singthong steered his metal skiff across the brown waters of the Mekong river, resigned to the pollution that has put his health and lifelong source of livelihood at risk.Doctors have found elevated levels of toxic arsenic in his fingernails and urine, with the heavy metal also detected in the river which millions of people in Southeast Asia depend on.Testing suggests the contamination, which experts and campaigners trace back to illegal mining in Myanmar, is now spreading downstream.Locals used to buy their fish directly from Somdet on a pier near Chiang Saen in northern Thailand, on the border with Myanmar and Laos.But since authorities detected arsenic and other heavy metals in several Mekong tributaries last year, his clientele has shrunk, leaving his carp and catfish rotting.'The impact has been huge,' the 69-year-old fisherman told AFP.'I've never been afraid, but other villagers are worried. They don't eat fish; some won't touch it at all.'Thailand's pollution control department said in April it had found arsenic concentrations of up to 296 milligrams per kilogram of sediment near Chiang Saen — more than nine times the level considered dangerous for aquatic life.That was the first time the contamination was detected in the Mekong river itself, and not only its tributaries.'When it's contaminated with heavy metals and other kinds of toxins, they flow all the way to the Mekong delta,' threatening an important rice-growing region in Vietnam, said Pianporn Deetes of the Rivers and Rights campaign group.'The fish are contaminated already,' she added.'The water is dead'Researchers and environmental activists generally attribute the pollution to illegal mines in neighbouring Myanmar, whose long-running civil war enables unregulated exploitation of natural resources, including rare earth elements used in smartphones, wind turbines, electric vehicles and more.'Conflict, fragmented governance, and global markets converge to promote and sustain extraction at the expense of environmental integrity and human security,' the Washington-based Stimson Center think tank said in a report in May.Researchers from Thailand's Chiang Mai University found arsenic levels 10 times higher than normal in sediment from the Kok river, a Mekong tributary.Assistant professor Wan Wiriya described it as a 'time bomb', raising long-term risks of cancer and neurological disorders — particularly among vulnerable populations.Buddhist monks in saffron robes led a protest march this month along the contaminated waterway, with participants holding signs reading 'Rivers are the veins of our lives'.'We don't see children playing in the water anymore. We don't see birds. We don't see butterflies,' said Sansoen Duangdee, a 69-year-old artist.'The water is dead. And if the water is dead, what about the people?''Invisible' dangerActivist Deetes, one of the organisers of the march, called for 'diplomatic dialogue' between Thailand and its neighbours, along with China — the main importer of rare earth elements from Myanmar and Laos.She denounced 'gangsters' who 'do what they want and without responsibility', as well as political apathy in the face of largely 'invisible' danger.The inter-governmental Mekong River Commission says it is strengthening regional monitoring and co-operation in the wake of the latest findings, including on heavy metals — but neither Myanmar nor China are members.Despite the concerns, Chiang Saen fish vendor Buakhlee Srisawat said some customers 'are starting to return'.The merchandise in her plastic coolers was 'edible', she said. 'There are no contaminants... many agencies have come to inspect it.'Authorities advise against any shellfish from the river or the guts of river fish, but many residents cannot afford safer alternatives.Fisherman Somdet said he has not changed his diet and continues to 'live normally'.'There's nothing else we can do anyway. We have to live with this river, whatever happens to it,' he said.'The river is like life itself... if it could cry, it would have cried by now.'
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President Donald Trump said Tuesday he was willing to send his interim deal to end the war with Iran for review by the US Congress, as lawmakers, including many of his fellow Republicans, said they were largely in the dark about the pact. The US-Iran agreement, announced on Sunday, has spurred optimism that a conflict that has killed thousands and disrupted the global economy will soon end. According to officials from both countries, the memorandum of understanding would extend a tenuous ceasefire announced in April by another 60 days and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping route effectively blocked since the US and Israel began attacking Iran on February 28. But the details remain unclear and the text of the pact has not been released or sent to Congress.Trump also insisted Tuesday that Iran would abandon its nuclear weapons program. Iran has long maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. Democrats have questioned Trump's latest promise of a peace deal."We've been told dozens of times that the war is over and dozens of times we've been disappointed," Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York said as he opened the Senate session on Tuesday."It's been two days since Trump claimed he had reached an 'understanding' with Iran and he still hasn't released any details... about what it actually is," Schumer said.Schumer called on the Trump administration to hold a classified briefing for Congress' "Gang of Eight," a group of intelligence committee and congressional leaders typically briefed on major national security developments.Schumer also said officials should brief the entire Congress, and inform the American people.No plans for any such events have been released.'I LIKE THE IDEA' Trump told reporters in France that he had not thought about sending the memorandum of understanding with Iran to Congress for review but that he would do it. "I like the idea," he said during his meeting with Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the United Arab Emirates, on the sidelines of the G7.Trump said he wanted to wait until after a formal signing ceremony expected on Friday.Trump could be legally obligated to involve Congress. Under the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, a 2015 US law passed as Democratic President Barack Obama's administration finalised an Iran nuclear agreement, any such agreement must be submitted to Congress for review before sanctions can be eased.That review leaves open the possibility that lawmakers could try to block parts of the deal. Some Republican lawmakers have been willing to break with the president, voting with Democrats, unsuccessfully, to force Trump to seek congressional approval for the Iran war. Under the US Constitution, Congress, not the president, has the power to declare war. But most Republicans, who hold slim majorities in both the Senate and House of Representatives, have shown little appetite during Trump's second term for challenging his foreign policy.Senator John Thune of South Dakota, the Senate's Republican leader, told reporters at the Capitol Tuesday that party members were pressing Trump to provide the text of the MOU."We're trying to get it," he said, acknowledging that it is unusual for an administration not to share information about such a major development with its own party."Since I've been in this job, we haven't had this issue," Thune said.Other Republicans joined Democrats in expressing frustration at the lack of information."If it's a secret deal, then how can I take it seriously?" Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina told reporters on Monday evening. Related Story
